Well-machine.



No 672,613. Patented Apr. 23, IQUI.

W. H. EATER.

WELL MACHINE.

(Application mad Feb. 5, 1900.) "(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

N0. 672,6l3. Patented Apr. 23, I901.

W. H. EATER.

WELL MACHINE.

' .Applicabiun filed Feb. 5, 1900.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

WILLIAM H. CATER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FREDERICK C. AUSTIN,OF SAME PLACE.

WELL-MACHlNE.

S PEGIFIOTIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 672,613, dated April23, 1901.

Application filed February 5, 1900- nerial No. 4,116. tllo model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. CATER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Well-Machines, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to that particular portion of a Well-machine whichgrips and rotates the drill rod or pipe and which at the same timepermits the latter to have a free longitudinal or end movement.

The objects of my invention are to provide an improved device which willeffectively grip and rotate a drill rod or pipe and which will permitthe latter to shift longitudinally or feed gradually downward during itsrotation, to provide an exceedingly simple and inexpensive device ofthis character and one which will not be liable to get out of order, toimprove the mode of and means for gripping the drill rod or pipe, and toprovide certain details tending to increase the general efficiency andto render a device of this character serviceable and thoroughlyreliable.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other useful ends my inventionconsists in matters.hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan of a device forgripping and rotating a rod or well-tube embodying the principles of myinvention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa vertical section on line 3 3 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a vertical sectionon line 4 tin Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an edge or side view of a portion of therotary head upon whichthe gripping-rolls are mounted.

.In the foregoing views, A represents the usual drillrod or well-tubeemployed in sinking wells and which is for such purpose given a rapidrotation and at the same time allowed to feed gradually downward.

The bed-plate B, upon which the rotary head revolves, is preferablyprovided with an annular ball-race b and also with a central opening I),and the under side of the rotary head is provided with a similarball-race c, and the antifriction-balls l are arranged between the twoannular races thus provided.

The rotation of the rotary head 0 can be accomplished in any suitablemanner, but

preferably by providing it with gear-teeth 0 which are adapted to meshwith the teeth of a bevel-gear D. with a tubular neck or boss 0 whichextends below the bead-plate and which is provided with a collar 0 Withthis arrangement the head C can be rotated at the desired rate of speedby rotating the bevel D, and the collar 0 will of course prevent thehead from rising from its bearings.

The means by which the rotary head is enabled to grip and rotate a rodor pipe comprises a set of gripping-rolls E, which are preferably threein number and arranged about the rod or pipe at equal distances fromeach other and which are provided with crossmilled or otherwiseroughened peripheries, which enable them to firmly bite or grip thetube. These rolls are mounted so as to revolve about horizontal axes andare each preferably mounted and arranged for independent adjustment. Asa simple and effective method of obtaining this independent adjustmenttwo of said rolls can be mounted upon blocks F, which have serrations ontheir under surfaces adapted to engage similar serrations or teeth onthe upper surface of the rotary head and which are bolted to the latterby bolts G, the heads of which are arranged to slide in radial slots H,formed in the upper portion of the rotary head 0. The third roll ispreferably mounted upon a block I, having a flaring base which slides ina dovetail groove formed by a couple of beads or ridges 0 Anadjusting-screw J, having a bearing in a lug or boss 0 is threaded intothe tail portion of the block I. Thus all three rolls are mounted foradjustment in directions radial to the rod or tube, and such adjustmentpermits the use of difierent-sized rods or tubes and causes the serratedor milled peripheries of the rolls to bite into and grip the said rodsor tubes. It will be observed, however, that with this arrangement a rodor tube can either be gripped or released by simply rotating the screw Jand that for this reason the rolls mounted upon the blocks F need not beadjusted, except when it is desired to employ either a larger or smallerrod. These rolls which are mounted upon the blocks F can be adjusted byfirstloosening the nuts 9 The head can be provided.

(See Figs. 1, 3, and 5.)

ing the rolls to firmly grip the rod or tube,

the inward thrust of the screw J operating to pinch the rod or tubebetween the three rolls in fully as efiectual a manner as could beobtained by their simultaneous adjustment.

What I claim as my invention is 1. Awell-machinecomprisingarotary memberprovided with a flat top and a central opening, a cylindric drill-rod orwell-tube extending through said opening, th ree grippingrolls arrangedat regular intervals about said rod or tube and provided withperipheries which bite the same, a block upon which one of said rolls ismounted and which slides in I a way formed upon said rotary member, arotary adjusting-screw engaging a threaded opening in said block andmounted in a hearing on said rotary member, a pair of blocks upon whichthe other two rolls are mounted, clamping-bolts extending through saidlastmentioned blocks and having their lower end portions arranged toslide in radial slots formed in said rotary member, and means for 30rotating the latter, substantially as described.

2. A well-machine comprisinga rotary member having a flat top and acentral opening, a cylindric drill-rod or well-tube extending throughsaid opening, three gripping-rolls arranged at regular intervals aboutsaid rod or tube and having flat peripheries which are cross-milled orroughened to enable them to bite or grip said rod or tube, a block uponwhich one of said rolls is mounted and which slides in a way formed uponthe top of said rotary member, an adj usting-screw engaging a threadedopening in said block and mounted in a bearing on said rotary member, apairof blocks upon which the other two rolls are mounted and which haveserrated under surfaces engagingserrations or teeth on the upper surfaceof said rotary member, clam pingbolts extending through saidlast-mentioned blocks and having their heads arranged to slide in radialslots formed in said rotary member, and means for rotating the latter,substan tially as described.

WILLIAM H. OATER.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR F. DURAND, AGNES A. DEVINE.

